Volume 7 ISSN 2152-3320 Concordia News May 2012 A newsletter for members, families, and friends of Concordia Lutheran Church and Concordia Cemetery Association Number 5 Pentecost meets Memorial Day Contents Page Words from the Pastor... 1 Announcements & Assignments... 2 With Our Thanks... 5 Bits and Pieces... 6 May Calendar... 7 Envelope Page... 8 I was listening recently to an interview with an individual who was described as being one of the most influential religious leaders of our country. It is easy to see how this might have happened. His father was the pastor of a large and growing congregation. His son, while not seminary educated, was a technician who did the important job of helping to record/broadcast the program. After his father's death he took over the role of leading the congregation. He has been enormously successful in attracting large numbers of people to worship in person and a far greater number, I am guessing of able-bodied, individuals who observe others worshiping on television and consider this to be worship. In contrast to the central beliefs of his father's denomination, he states that he feels that mention of sin and scripture is counterproductive to the success of reaching out to as many people as possible. It is likely that he is correct that talking about the reality of sin in the lives of his congregants and quoting scripture would likely not result in the numerical growth he has experienced. In the interview he stated that he preferred to concentrate on positive thinking and upon his own experience. In a society where most Americans value these more than scripture and sin preaching, it is easy to seen how he might be successful. Today I went to the funeral of one of my local airmen, younger than I, who died of natural causes. Tragically, this was at the same congregation that experienced the loss of a member who died in combat in Iraq. Both were weekly attenders of worship in their church and were active in the support of their religious community and the surrounding community. In life and in death neither of these men, from what I have heard publicly described of them, put confidence in positive thinking or in their own spiritual experiences. Today, as I write this, was also the anniversary of Operation Tiger. It was an exercise intended to simulate the landing on Normandy; it was ordered by General Eisenhower as a live-fire training exercise in anticipation of D-Day. Nazi submarines, by chance, happened to be in the area and began firing on the American Higgins landing craft and other naval craft. All told, 946 servicemen were killed. The primary culprit identified in these deaths was a lack of a common radio frequency. Thankfully this was corrected prior to the subsequent attacks on Normandy. I would guess that a significant percentage of those soldiers, marines and airmen who died on Utah and Omaha beaches were aware that they would not survive. What does a gospel of positive thinking have to say to them? In contrast what does Luther's gospel of the cross have to say to them? The true gospel is not about our experience even if couched in the religious terms of faith. All that matters is the one who rejected the temptation to pursue positive thinking/success and instead took the way of the cross. That is the chance that his pursuit of the mission (in Christ's sake his Father's mission) for the sake of the gospel and for others. Please join us for the Concordia Memorial Day service. May God continue to Bless you all. Pastor Bruce
Meeting: May 8, 2012 Lunch: Carolyn Edwards & Germaine Gress Cookie Servers Announcements and Assignments Momisms What if everyone jumped off a bridge? Would you do it, too? Clean your plate! Think of the starving children in Don t cross your eyes, they ll get stuck that way! You'd lose your head if it weren't screwed on! If I ve told you once I've told you a thousand times Close that door! Were you born in a barn? May 6 May 13 May 20 May 27 June 3 June 10 June 17 June 24 Orpha Hoelstad Delores Hagene Becky Jetvig Polly Hanson Sylvia Teigen Doris Kassenborg Linda Koester Osie Juve Sunday, May 13 Remember to sign up to bring a salad to the luncheon on May 12. If you know of someone in the hospital or in need of a home visit, contact Pastor Bruce at 218-329-2245. Concordianews.org The Sixth Commandment and Family is the subject for Kids Corner in May. Kids Corner is located in the Congregation section of our website. Cemetery Clean-up Join us at 5 pm on Wednesday, May 23 to clean up the cemetery for Memorial Day. If it s raining, cleanup will be rescheduled for the same time on Friday, May 25. On Friday May 11 we will meet at the church at 9:00 to set up for the WELCA salad luncheon and to make Rommegrøt. See you at the church if you are able to be there. Helen (Kassenborg) Egan 1924-2012 Helen Elaine Kassenborg was born August 30, 1924, to parents Alvin and Lena (Brendemuhl) Kassenborg. We extend our sympathy to her family. Helen passed away on March 7, 2012 in California. Survivors are two sons, Mike (Audrey) and Gene (Debbie) and five grandsons; sister Alvina Burke; two sistersin-law, Helen Kassenborg and Doris Kassenborg; and many nieces, nephews and cousins in our community. Helen was buried in Pacific Palisades, California next to her husband Maurice and son Patrick. 2
Announcements and Assignments SALAD LUNCHEON CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH Saturday, May 12, 2012 10:30 AM $8.00 Featuring the musical stylings of Susan Green Rommegrøt will be sold 6637 80 Ave N Glyndon, MN 56547 From Hwy 10 7 miles north on County Rd 11, turn left. From Hwy 75 Turn east on County Rd 26(90 Ave N). Go 4 miles,turn right onto County Rd 11 (70 th St). Go 1 mile south, turn right. 3
Announcements and Assignments Concordia Cemetery Association invites you to its annual Memorial Day Service Monday, May 28 10 AM Potluck Lunch follows Service 4
With Our Thanks Recipe of the Month Easy Corn Salad Cemetery Association In Memory of Partyke Family Paul & Jenifer Partyke In Memory of Helen (Kassenborg) Egan Cindy Christopherson In Memory of Merle Meyer Darlene Meyer Donation Wally & Carol Thomas Newsletter Gifts Darlene Meyer Lois Horpedahl Steve and Christy Sem Olive Kosen Davis Kosen Ingredients 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon water 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper 1 (15.25 ounce) can sweet corn, drained 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/3 cup chopped sweet onion 1 small tomato, chopped Directions Thank-you for all the cards and phone calls and visits while I was in the hospital recovering from my surgery. A special thankyou for your prayers and visits to Pastor Bruce and Kathy. Myron Hagene Whisk together the apple cider vinegar, sugar, olive oil, water, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add the corn, green & red bell peppers, onion, and tomato, and lightly toss. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. May 27, 1931 "...Then swinging westward again towards the river, seeming almost to take aim at Concordia Lutheran Church, it [the tornado] took this building and laid it in a tangled mass of wreckage. Several gravestones in the cemetery were turned over..." Moorhead Daily News, Thursday May 28, 1931 "Evidently drawing up a huge amount of water from the Buffalo River, the tornado plastered everything on the Nels Hanson farm with a heavy coating of mud. It picked up cattle and chickens and scattered them all over the prairie. Six cows were killed and a hog...a baker's dozen (of chickens) remain alive and these walk about the yard caked with mud and minus most of their feathers." Moorhead Daily News, Friday, May 29, 1931 To all who helped set up and donated, prepared, and served the ham dinner. It was a great success! Special thanks to Hornbacher s in Moorhead, who has generously supported this event over the years. This year they special-ordered the hams for us and provided a $150 giftcard that covered almost all of the grocery expenses. Krumkake and Rommegrøt! Thanks to all the ladies who helped make krumkake for the salad luncheon. We tried out rommegrøt recipes and have settled on the tastiest one for sale that day. 5
Remembering A Local Hero: Louis James Hauge, Jr. Louis Hauge, Jr. was born on December 12, 1924 in Ada, Minnesota. He was active in all athletics, but left high school after his first year and worked in a canning factory in Ada, where he became assistant foreman. He later was employed by a ship yard in Tacoma, Washington as a painter. He was inducted into the Marine Corps Reserve on April 23, 1943 and completed lightmachine gun school at Camp Elliott, California before serving with the 1st Marine Division at New Caledonia and New Guinea. Later, he saw combat action on Peleliu as a message runner with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines. In this capacity, he distinguished himself for his bravery under fire and was given a meritorious promotion to corporal. Corporal Hauge was killed in action on May 14, 1945, while serving on Okinawa as a member of the 1st Marine Division. For his heroic actions on that day, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. At the time of his death, Cpl Hauge was squad leader of a machine gun squad in Southern Okinawa engaged in an assault against a heavily fortified Japanese hill. It was during the evening that the left flank of Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, was pinned down by a barrage of mortar and machine gun fire. The enemy was pouring enfilade fire into the ranks of the Marines. Quickly spotting the two guns responsible for the damage, Cpl Hauge boldly rushed across an open area, heaving hand grenades as he ran. Wounded before he reached the first gun, he nevertheless continued his one-man assault and completely destroyed the position. Without stopping, he pushed forward and attacked the second gun with grenades and demolished it before falling from the deadly fire of the Japanese snipers. Inspired by his actions, his company rose from their besieged position and pressed home the attack. Corporal Hauge's remains were eventually returned to the United States and interred in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Medal of Honor was presented to his father on June 14, 1946 by Col Norman E. True, USMC, who represented the Bits & Pieces 6 Commandant of the Marine Corps. Camp Louis J Hauge, Jr. was a Marine encampment on Okinawa used as a transit point during the Vietnam War. A Maritime Prepositioning Ship was named in Hauge s honor in 1984. CORPORAL LOUIS J. HAUGE, JR Medal of Honor Citation For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of a Machine-Gun Squad serving with Company C, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa Shima in the Ryūkyū Chain on 14 May 1945. Alert and aggressive during a determined assault against a strongly fortified Japanese Hill position, Corporal Hauge boldly took the initiative when his company's left flank was pinned down under a heavy machine-gun and mortar barrage with resultant severe casualties and, quickly locating the two machine guns which were delivering the uninterrupted stream of enfilade fire, ordered his squad to maintain a covering barrage as he rushed across an exposed area toward the furiously blazing enemy weapons. Although painfully wounded as he charged the first machine-gun, he launched a vigorous singlehanded grenade attack, destroyed the entire hostile gun position and moved relentlessly forward toward the other emplacement despite his wounds and the increasingly heavy Japanese fire. Undaunted by the savage opposition, he again hurled his deadly grenades with unerring aim and succeeded in demolishing the second enemy gun before he fell under the slashing fury of Japanese sniper fire. By his ready grasp of the critical situation and his heroic one-man assault tactics, Corporal Hauge had eliminated two strategically placed enemy weapons, thereby releasing the besieged troops from an overwhelming volume of hostile fire and enabling his company to advance. His indomitable fighting spirit and decisive valor in the face of almost certain death reflect the highest credit upon Corporal Hauge and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. /S/HARRY S. TRUMAN
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Remove from mailing list: Add to mailing list: Change of address: Concordia News Name: Address: City: State: Zip Code: E-mail address: @ Mail to: Concordia Lutheran Church, 6637 80th Ave. N. Glyndon, MN. 56547 Please clip the upper portion of this page and mail with any changes. You can also visit our website at: http://www.concordianews.org and click on Newsletter to read the current or past issues of Concordia News in regular or large print, change your address, sign up to receive the newsletter by mail, or request an email notification when each newsletter appears on the website. The Concordia News is published monthly by Articles, announcements, acknowledgements, Concordia Lutheran Church and Concordia photos, etc. should be given to the editor. Cemetery Association. To submit an item for the newsletter: Concordia Newsletter Staff Editors: Karolynn Decker & Sylvia Teigen Treasurer/Distribution: Valdemar Hagene Web Edition: Alene Sladky E-mail: news@concordianews.org Write: Karolynn Teigen-Decker 915 4th Avenue South Moorhead MN 56560. Deadline for submission of material is the 20th of each month Concordia Lutheran Church/Cemetery Assoc. 6637 80th Avenue North Glyndon, MN. 56547 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED www.concordianews.org You are always welcome at Concordia Lutheran Church NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID MOORHEAD, MN PERMIT 384 Handicap Accessible Sunday Worship: Coffee Hour: 9:00a.m Worship Service: 10:00a.m. Communion: 1st Sunday of the month Concordia Women of the ELCA: Second Tuesday: 1:30 p.m. Pastor: Bruce Krogstad Office: 218-233-0459 Cell: 218-329-2245 May 2012